Tag Archives: Car Crime

Immobilise, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss

Immobilise helps Police recover stolen property worth over £3 million

South Yorkshire Police have recovered stolen property valued over £3million from criminals who are intent on causing misery to South Yorkshire residents and motorists.

Fishing tackle, quad bikes, jewellery, building materials and a lorry carrying a crane are just some of the more unusual items seized by officers since the launch of Operation Lockdown in October 2013.

Electrical items, mainly sat navs, car stereos, TVs, mobile phones and games consoles, have also been recovered from burglaries and vehicle crimes, and where possible, returned to their owners.

Chief Inspector Iain Chorlton said:

Having valuable or personal items stolen from your home or car is a distressing experience so any property we recover and return to people is good news.

We’re doing our utmost to track down criminals and recover stolen items but the public can help us, and more importantly themselves, by registering their property on the Immobilise website.

The online database is quick and free to use, and could help individuals to get their items back if they are lost or stolen. We know that people would rather not have anything stolen in the first place but thanks to Immobilise and the action we are taking, life is becoming more difficult for thieves.

The Force is deploying ‘sting’ vehicles across the county and officers are working closely with Crimestoppers to maximise intelligence and add to the thousand-plus arrests that have already been made during Operation Lockdown.

Between 1 October 2013 and 12 January 2014, police recovered stolen property linked to burglary and vehicle crime in South Yorkshire worth an estimated £3,017,629.

South Yorkshire Police would love to return stolen items to their owners and people can register their valuables free of charge at www.immobilise.com.

Further information about home and vehicle security is available in the Help and advice section of the Force’s website.

Anyone with information about burglary or vehicle crime should contact South Yorkshire Police on 101, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

View the source story at: www.southyorks.police.uk

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police

Northumbria Police aim to Immobilise thieves and property crime

Northumbria Police BadgeNorthumbria Police are urging residents to safeguard their valuables and avoid being targeted by thieves.

Officers are holding free property logging sessions at the Newcastle Shopping Park in Byker on Tuesday, July 23, Wednesday, July 24 and Thursday, July 25, from 9am to 3pm daily.

People are invited to come along to the mobile police office in the car park and officers will register items for them on www.immobilise.com – The UK Nation Property Register. You don’t need to bring the items with you, just bring the details of them and an officer will open your account which you will be able to add to at any time.

It only takes a couple of minutes to use the site to record the make, model and serial numbers of property from mobiles, iPods, TVs and laptops to bicycles, jewellery, power tools and portable sat navs. The secure site can only be accessed by the registered user.

Police check any items they recover against the database; if it’s been registered they can easily identify the owner and return the property to them – even if it hasn’t been reported stolen.

It’s simple to use and residents can add more items to the site when they get home, to make sure all valuable property is recorded and kept up to date.

This is part of Northumbria Police’s volume crime campaign – Operation Soundwave – aimed at ‘turning up the volume on crime’ and silencing opportunist criminals during the summer months.

Neighbourhood Inspector Deborah Alderson, said:

By holding this crime prevention three-day event at the start of the school holidays we hope people will take advantage of the opportunity to get help security logging their property.

At this time of year we often see an increase in opportunist theft from homes and vehicles. To deter thieves security log your property on the crime prevention site then, if an item is stolen and subsequently recovered by police it can be reunited with its rightful owners.

We continue to do everything possible to trace the people involved in theft and burglaries in our communities and put them before the courts, but we are also asking residents to play their part by taking simple crime prevention measures.

I’d also encourage residents to report anything suspicious they see in their neighbourhood to police at the earliest opportunity so we can investigate.

If you can’t get along to the crime prevention event at Newcastle Shopping Park officers are encouraging residents to register their property themselves on a free crime prevention website – www.immobilise.com – and increase the chance of getting any stolen items returned.

For further crime prevention advice and the source article visit www.northumbria.police.uk

Immobilise, Immobilize, Lost Property, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss

Lincolnshire Police say: If You Love It, Log It!

As Christmas approaches, Lincolnshire Police are urging people to log their expensive gifts and precious belongings on Immobilise.com, the world’s largest free register of ownership details.

Any item can be registered on Immobilise from small pieces of jewellery to plasma screen TVs and it is especially popular with people wishing to register mobile phones and bicycles.  The system records serial numbers and also allows the user to upload a photo and description.

The database is linked directly to police systems, enabling officers to trace the owners of recovered property and to also identify the item as being stolen if found in the possession of a suspected thief.  This ability to link suspects to a crime via the database means that Immobilise acts as a major deterrent to criminals.

Detective Sergeant Richard Myszczyszyn, from Skegness CID, said:

Burglars and thieves know that there will be rich pickings to be had in the post Christmas period and the use of the Immobilise database is a valuable addition to your crime prevention precautions. You can register as many items as you like, and then if they are lost or stolen you simply log back on to register them as such. The police can check any property they recover, whether that be from raids, routine checks on second-hand dealers or items brought into custody and, if they find anything that is listed as stolen, not only will you get your belongings back, but the thieves can be brought to justice.

DS Myszczyszyn ended by saying:

We want to send a clear message to those potential thieves that anything logged on Immobilise is too hot to handle. By registering your property and marking it as such, Lincolnshire residents can take steps to ensure they are much less likely to become a victim of crime.

To read the source article please go to www.lincs.police.uk

 

 

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, Lost Property, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss

South Yorkshire Police advise – If you love it, log it!

South Yorkshire Police are advising people: ‘If you love it, log it’.

The recommendation, published on the South Yorkshire Police website says, Police are urging people to log their expensive property and any other precious belongings on immobilise.com – the world’s largest FREE register of ownership details.

In addition to acting as a major deterrent to criminals, the big difference with Immobilise is that as well as getting your stuff back if it’s lost or stolen, the system helps to catch the thieves as well!

The database is linked directly to police systems, so when officers recover any property, for whatever reason, they can check it against items logged on Immobilise. For example, if someone arrested on suspicion of drunk and disorderly has your stolen mobile phone in their pocket, police will also be able to link the theft to them as well – but only if it’s registered!

Any item can be registered on Immobilise. The easiest items to log are electricals, or anything that has a serial number, but you can even log jewellery or ornamental items using the photo upload and description functions.

You can register as many items as you like, and then if they are lost or stolen you simply log back on to register them as such. The police can check any property they recover, whether that’s when a person is brought into custody for any reason, property recovered from criminals in raids, or even during one of their now routine checks on second-hand dealers. And if they find anything that is listed as stolen, not only will you get your belongings back, but the thieves can be brought to justice.

We want to send a clear message to those potential thieves that anything logged on Immobilise is too hot to handle. As a member of the South Yorkshire public, by registering your property, and marking it as such, you are much less likely to become a victim of crime.

To read the source article please go to: www.southyorks.police.uk

 

Crime, Immobilise, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss

Immobilise helps South Yorkshire Police reduce property crime

South Yorkshire has claimed a major success on crimes such as burglary and car theft following the recent release of new crime figures. The new figures show that house burglaries in South Yorkshire were at their lowest level in 30 years and that the number of car thefts were at their lowest since records began in 1974.

The statistics also reveal that in the year to March, 29 per cent of all serious acquisitive crimes committed in the county were solved and that crimes of that type were down 11 per cent on 2009/10.

South Yorkshire Police said it had developed specialist teams of detectives to focus specifically on burglary, robbery and vehicle crime.

Technology used at the scenes of burglaries and car crimes has moved on quickly with forensic officers now using shoe match identification as well as DNA and fingerprints.

Intelligence on crime trends and active criminals is also used to deploy officers to priority areas across South Yorkshire, and officers are engaged in “offender management” which involves curfew checks and application of bail conditions to limit re-offending.

Supt Tim Innes, South Yorkshire Police’s lead officer for serious acquisitive crime, said:

Despite record performance for South Yorkshire, it’s critical that we keep the focus on this area of crime which can be emotionally and financially devastating for victims.

Our success is based upon some key factors.

Effective use of intelligence, management of offenders, working with partners and communities, quality investigation, and providing a responsive service day in, day out.

I would like to recognise the hard work of our staff who do a tremendous job across all departments and agencies.

I would also like to thank the public who are reporting crime, marking, securing and recording their property, and providing valuable information to help us track down criminals.

We have had some tremendous success in identifying stolen goods and I would like to remind everyone in South Yorkshire to log their property on websites such as www.immobilise.com which help reunite stolen items with their owners.

To read the source article please go to: Yorkshire Post

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss

‘Lock it or lose it’ warn Harrogate police

Harrogate police are urging residents to ‘lock it or lose it’ after a recent increase in the number of burglaries and car break-ins.

Officers believe that the rise can be combated with the help of the community who can help reduce further offences by taking preventative security measures.

Although the district has enjoyed falling figures in crimes such as robbery, sexual offences and thefts from outbuildings, burglary and theft from vehicles remains an issue which officers are keen to stamp out.

Sergeant Geoff Crocker, of Harrogate Safer Neighbourhood Team, said:

Harrogate is one of the safest towns in the safest county in the country, however some people’s complacency over crime prevention is making life easy for criminals.

We have to act now to ensure that offenders don’t have it their own way. Make life difficult for them, most thieves are opportunistic – if they see an unsecured door or window they will be in.

What they don’t like is a challenge, it is vital that people take the proper security measures to ensure that their houses or cars are as difficult as possible to get into.

Over half of burglaries occur at properties that have been left insecure and these offences could have easily been prevented by closing windows and locking doors.

Sgt Crocker also pointed out that burglaries where offenders force entry to a property are almost exclusively committed at homes which don’t have burglar alarms fitted. He added:

While investigating a recent burglary, I noticed that the offenders had climbed over several garden fences of neighbouring properties to get to the house. All the surrounding properties had burglar alarms, the house that was burgled did not.

Laptops, jewellery and car keys were stolen from the house and Sgt Crocker is urging residents to consider the loss of possessions and inconvenience against the cost of having adequate security measures installed.

Thefts from unattended vehicles have also gone up in Harrogate, mainly because many people are still leaving their cars unlocked.

Laptops, iPhones, Blackberrys and wallets have all been stolen from insecure vehicles recently, in thefts that could have been easily prevented by locking the door and removing valuable items from view. Sgt Crocker said:

The lack of security awareness shown by some motorists is staggering, the vast majority of thefts from vehicles have come as a result of the car being left unlocked.

Thieves are simply walking along the road or up driveways looking for vehicles that have been left insecure.

We really need to get the message across: lock your car, remove all valuable property and leave nothing on view.

Police are urging the residents of Harrogate to work with them to make life tough for criminals and help reduce the number of burglaries and thefts occurring in the town.

Local Safer Neighbourhood officers are always happy to give crime prevention advice and everyone can do their bit to ensure their homes and cars are secure.

Sgt Crocker added:

We need to ensure firstly that thieves aren’t getting an easy steal and secondly that they have an increased risk of getting caught.

The first part of this has to come from the community by observing basic security procedures including using locks that they already have.

The second part is down to the police, to relentlessly pursue criminals, put them before the courts and continue to reduce crime in Harrogate District.

Sgt Crocker has offered his top 10 crime prevention tips to residents wishing to guard against burglary and theft:

  • Remove all valuables from your vehicle and ensure it is locked.
  • Keep keys in a safe place, out of reach of doors and windows.
  • Get a burglar alarm fitted preferably from a SSAIB or NSI approved company.
  • Part set your alarm before going to bed.
  • Photograph expensive jewellery, mark it with Smartwater and keep it in a safe.
  • Photograph and mark expensive antiques and pictures.
  • Create an immobilise account at www.immobilise.com and record your possessions on the database.
  • Join your local Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
  • Check your door lock. If it does not show kite mark BS3621, contact the police, a locksmith or your NHW coordinator.
  • If you see something suspicious report it

To visit North Yorkshire Police’s Website go to: http://www.northyorkshire.police.uk/index.aspx?articleid=6736

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Lost Property, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss, Students

Avon & Somerset Police launch unusual crime awareness campaign

Avon & Somerset Police have launched an unusual crime awareness & immobilise registration campaign for Christmas. Reported by the Bristol Evening Post, shoppers can learn how to stay safe this Christmas with the help of a mocked up crime scene.

Avon and Somerset Police have transformed an empty shop unit in The Mall Bristol, Broadmead, into a rather unusual information centre.

Experts from Bike UK, the Safer Bristol Partnership and the police will be on hand to advise members of the public on all safety issues, from bike locks and seasonal burglary to late night transport and drink and drug awareness.

One of two large window displays will contain a crime scene for members of the public to investigate. The other will be have a bike security theme. Police will be urging shoppers to register presents like laptops and bikes on the national property database, Immobilise.

The database is used by police to trace the owners of suspected stolen property.

If the items are ever stolen the account holder logs on and marks them as stolen. They will then be flagged up on the national database as stolen when checked by retailers or police forces.

There will also be the chance to win a Saracen mountain bike, free T-Shirt printing with the police’s Streetwise team after school on December 9 and 16, and balloons to fingerprint and take home.

PCSO Warren Vincent-Rodgers from the Broadmead and Cabot Circus police team came up with the idea for the shop.

He said:

We tested the shop in The Mall last year with great success, speaking to more than 1,000 Bristol residents about all sorts of security and safety issues.

You can’t really have a more striking window display than a crime scene, and with so many TV programmes getting children and adults interested in this area of work, it’s a fantastic opportunity to see at first hand the techniques CSIs use to find clues and help solve cases.

Everyone is invited to note down their theory of what happened and will be entered into a prize draw.

It should make a welcome distraction from Christmas shopping.

The shop will open Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, on Thursdays until 7pm, and on Saturdays until 3pm. For more on immobilise go to www.immobilise.com.

To read the source article please go to: www.thisisbristol.co.uk

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, Lost Property, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss, Students

Kent Police issue advice on protecting your personal property

The Kent Police website offers some great information and advice on protecting your personal property. The advice includes personal safety, securing your home, personal property and vehicle security. Much of what you will read on the site is commonly issued advice, however the Essex website has gathered it all together in a useful easy to digest form that is relevant to all of us regardless of where we live.

One of the key messages that comes across is the importance of marking your possessions and registering them on the Immobilise Property Register.

The police recover many items that have been lost or stolen. By security marking items that have financial or sentimental value, it is easier for the police to identify them and return them to you.

Marking your property may also act as a deterrent to thieves, who do not want to be caught holding or passing on stolen items.

Always include information that will help identify you as the owner of the property, for example, a postcode.

For more information please see the following links:

Kent Police: www.kent.police.uk/advice/advice.html

Bicycles, Crime, Immobilise, Immobilize, Lost Property, Mobile Phones, Police, Report My Loss, Students

BBC features West Midlands Police’s Digi-bike promoting Immobilise

BBC news yesterday reported that the West Midlands Police in Dudley have just unveiled a new tool in their drive to reduce crime. The device is a four wheeled pedal powered “Digi-bike”, providing a multimedia message to passersby, broadcasting Bluetooth and video and audio messages from its screens and speakers.

One of the key crime prevention messages that the digi-bike is promoting is the registration of your valued property on the Immobilise National Property Register (www.immobilise.com).

To view the BBC video go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10947119

To read the expanded BBC news story go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-black-country-10944247

Bicycles, CheckMEND, Crime, Immobilise, ImmobiTag, Mobile Phones, NMPR, Police, Report My Loss, Students

Immobilise helps police reunite 250 items of recovered property with their owners

Property Marking EventPolice in Avon and Somerset yesterday (Thursday December 17) held their latest “Relentless” day, focussing on the prevention of theft and burglary.

There have been 26 Operation Relentless “days of action” since its launch in June 2005, which has resulted in more than 2150 arrests.

“Operation Relentless on Property” has targeted thieves and those who handle stolen goods in addition to highlighting crime prevention initiatives to the public to foil burglars and other criminals.

As part of the day of action, police and partner agencies engaged in a range of activities across Somerset. A warrant was carried out in the Taunton area leading to the arrest of a man for handling stolen goods. Vulnerable Vehicle Checks were carried out across the area, inspecting vehicles and identifying those with items of value left on display. The owners of the cars have been sent a letter reminding them to keep items such as phones, MP3s and Satellite Navigation Systems out of sight.

Officers also visited several second hand goods retailers with Trading Standards to ensure that they were complying with regulations and not trading in stolen items. Six arrests were made during the course of the morning. Five men were arrested for theft and another man was arrested for handling stolen goods. Four have been given bail pending further enquiries.

Officers from the district’s CID department also managed to reunite 250 items of detained property with their rightful owners this week.

Detective Inspector Alan West said:

When police receive items of property that have been recovered from thefts and burglaries, officers try to trace the owners of the items to return their possessions to them. If electrical items are registered on Immobilise and other items such as jewellery or antiques are property marked with the owners address or postcode, this process can be straightforward.

However, unmarked or unregistered items can languish in the Detained Property Department unclaimed for long periods and some items can never be linked to an owner. I would really encourage the public to either register their items on Immobilise or mark them with a UV pen or other property marking device so we can return them to you if the worst were to happen. Marking your items can also sometimes act as a deterrent to would be criminals.

Neighbourhood officers and PCSOs were also in Taunton town centre this morning registering people’s property, such as mobile phones, cameras and mp3 players, on the Immobilise website and carrying out bike and property marking. The Deputy Chief Constable, Rob Beckley, joined them in giving festive advice on how to beat the burglars and assisted with a bicycle property marking session. The team will be in the town centre again on January 13 and 21 offering these services for those who had new bikes or electronic equipment for Christmas.

In Bridgwater, officers held a property marking session at Bridgwater College for the students to register mobile phones and laptops on the Immobilise website and officers from Burnham-on-Sea visited King Alfred School in Highbridge and Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar to take property marking kits to mark and record mobile phones and MP3 players. Other property marking sessions also took place in Wellington Square in Minehead and the Town Hall in Dulverton.

DCC Beckley said:

We really want people to have a wonderful Christmas and New Year but we ask them to take some sensible measures to ensure that their festive period isn’t marred by becoming a victim of opportunistic thieves. One-in-four burglaries occur after the householder failed to secure their home and the burglar entered the property via an open door or window!

I encourage people to think about how their house looks when they go out – don’t make it obvious that there is nobody home, leave a light on and the radio playing and most importantly – make sure you lock all doors and windows, even if you are only popping out for a short period of time.

Inspector Nick Greenhalgh from the Community Safety team at Taunton Police Station said people can help protect themselves from opportunistic thieves by employing these simple measures:

  • Ensure windows and doors are shut and locked when you are out
  • Lock sheds and garages
  • Don’t leave car keys left in an outside porch or within reach of letter boxes
  • Shoppers are advised not to leave presents in view on car seats. They should be taken home immediately and not left in the vehicle.
  • Christmas presents – wrapped or unwrapped – should not be left in view in the home.
  • Don’t leave boxes from new TVs or laptops on display outside your home, take them to the tip.
  • Register your property on www.immobilise.com
  • Mark your property – kits are available from your local police teams.

Further information regarding home security and crime prevention can be obtained from your local Safer Stronger Neighbourhood team. You can contact them by calling 0845 456 7000 or you can log on to our website www.avonandsomerset.police.uk and select the Crime Prevention heading.

To read the source article in full please go to: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=18923&t=1&lid=5